Atletico Madrid beat 10-man Celtic with Antoine, Alvaro scoring twice each to top Champions League Group

AntoineGriezmannand AlvaroMoratastruck twice each asAtleticoMadrid hammered ragged10-manCeltic6-0 on Tuesday to move top of their Champions League group. Diego Simeone's side took an early lead throughGriezmannbut were struggling untilCelticforward Daizen Maeda was dismissed midway through the first half for a high foot.

Morataadded a second before the break andAtleticorackedupthe goals in the second half, with both forwards netting again and Samuel Lino and Saul Niguez also on target. Atletico's emphatic win leaves them with eight points, one ahead of Lazio, second, and two ahead of former group leaders Feyenoord, whileCelticare last with only one. "The team didn't lower its rhythm of play, they were always looking for more," a pleased Simeone told Movistar.

"It's a crunch moment for everyone (in the group), it will be tricky until the end." TheAtleticocoach lavished praise on key playerGriezmann, who is enjoying one of the best spells of his career. Griezmanncontroversially leftAtleticofor Barcelona in 2019 but returned on loan in 2021 before signing permanently once more.

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"When some didn't agree with his return, I was convinced that he was born to play atAtleticoMadrid," Simeone told reporters. "He turned this situation around ... I'm lucky to have a player likeGriezmann."I have no doubt that with what he's got left to go atAtletico, he will be one of the team's best ever players." Atleticobounced back strongly from a disappointing defeat at La Liga minnows Las Palmas on Friday to leave Brendan Rodgers' side on the brink of elimination and record their 16th consecutive home victory across all competitions.

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Griezmannstruck in the sixth minute, his low effort skidding home with the aid of a deflection off Cameron Carter-Vickers, afterCelticgave him too much time and space on the edge of the box. Celticwinger Luis Palma showed flashes at the other end as his team dominated the ball in the opening 20 minutes.

However the game changed drastically when Japanese international Maeda was sent off for a high foot on Mario Hermoso. Although the referee initially gave a yellow card, Maeda was dismissed after VAR intervention --Celtic's third red card of the competition. "It's hard enough at this level with 11 men, that's two games we've had players sent off,"Celticcaptain Callum McGregortold TNT Sports. "(It was) a humbling experience for us."

After that it was one-way traffic at the Metropolitano, although Jan Oblak tipped away an accidentalMoratamiskick, heading towards his own goal. Atleticodoubled their lead just before the break when he headed home after a classy team move, withGriezmannfinding Jose Gimenez, who nodded the ball back forMorata.

Standing ovation

Joe Hart denied Angel Correa and Gimenez hit the bar with a header asAtleticopushed for the third, which came via an acrobatic finish fromGriezmann. The French forward, who was surprisingly withdrawn against Las Palmas withAtleticolosing, went off early again, this time to a standing ovation.

Lino added a superb fourth, cutting in from the left and arcing an effort across Hart and into the net, before Correa struck the post.Atletico's fifth followed whenMoratalashed home his fifth Champions League goal of the season from the edge of the box, giving the despairing Hart no chance.

Saul got in on the act in the final stages, stabbing home from close range after Lino's attempted strike fell into his path to round offAtletico's sizeable triumph. "Their red card gave us an advantage, but we have to continue like this,"Griezmanntold Movistar.

"Respecting our opponent, we tried to play as well as possible and not do silly things like try nutmegs." The French forward, operating in an attacking midfield role againstCeltic, said he was open to playing there if the coach wanted him to."I'm learning by watching a lot of football on television -- whatever it takes for the club and for Cholo (Simeone)," addedGriezmann.